Solid Waste Association of North America

Solid Waste Association of North America SWANA is a member-based association committed to advancing from waste to resource management.

RCon™ is SWANA's flagship event experience that brings together 1,700 industry professionals to learn and collaborate.

🚀We’re spotlighting two 2026 SWANA Award recipients, ecomaine and Tyler Bandemer! 🏭The Waste Conversion and Energy Recov...
09/04/2026

🚀We’re spotlighting two 2026 SWANA Award recipients, ecomaine and Tyler Bandemer!

🏭The Waste Conversion and Energy Recovery (WCER) Facility Excellence Award celebrates facilities that implement exemplary design, management, and operation of renewable energy projects working with solid waste. This year, the award went to ecomaine, home of a waste-to-energy plant in Maine that creates 100,000 megawatt-hours of electricity per year.

"Earning this recognition is a credit to the incredible dedication of all those who contribute to making ecomaine successful, including our workforce, our Board Members, and our member communities," says Kevin Roche, ecomaine's CEO. "Ecomaine is a highly respected and trusted organization in our region, and we very much value and appreciate this recognition.”

🚛Tyler Bandemer was awarded the Collection & Transfer (C&T) Distinguished Individual Achievement Award in recognition of his commitment and contributions to the C&T Technical Division and the industry. Tyler has served as Solid Waste Management Superintendent for over 15 years at the City of Loveland in CO.

“I am truly honored to receive this award and to be recognized by SWANA and the Collection and Transfer Technical Division,” shares Tyler. “While this is an individual honor, none of what I have accomplished would have been possible without the talented and dedicated team at the City of Loveland and the residents who have embraced these programs. Together, we have leveraged technology as a driver of real, measurable change – reducing costs, improving operational efficiency, and making our workplace safer for the people who do this work every day. By making our programs accessible, easy to use, and affordable, our residents have responded with outstanding participation – and that engagement is what turns vision into results, including maintaining a 60 percent residential diversion rate and leading Colorado's waste reduction efforts for many consecutive years. Thank you to SWANA and to everyone who has been part of this journey.”

✈️Lock in your spot at RCon® today and join us at the annual Awards Ceremony to celebrate the 2026 recipients: https://swana.org/events/rcon2026

💡SWANA’s Applied Research Foundation (ARF) just dropped a new research report, “Clarifying the Benefits of WTE Facilitie...
09/03/2026

💡SWANA’s Applied Research Foundation (ARF) just dropped a new research report, “Clarifying the Benefits of WTE Facilities for County and Provincial Elected Officials,” designed to help industry leaders and partners better understand the benefits waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities can bring to a community.

🗣️ “County and provincial elected officials are being asked to make complex, long-term decisions about how their communities manage residual waste,” explained Carolyn F. Muller, Acting CEO of SWANA. “This report gives them a practical, research-based resource to better understand waste-to-energy facilities, ask informed questions, and communicate clearly with residents.”

🧑‍💻Learn more at https://bit.ly/46KV4GV

🌟Congratulations to Luke Procter and the City of Greenville, two recipients of SWANA’s 2026 Safety Awards! 🦺SWANA’s new ...
09/02/2026

🌟Congratulations to Luke Procter and the City of Greenville, two recipients of SWANA’s 2026 Safety Awards!

🦺SWANA’s new Individual Safety Award recognizes someone whose actions have made an outstanding contribution to improving safety in our industry, making Luke Procter an excellent recipient. As a Driver Safety Trainer for Miller Waste Systems, Inc. in Ontario, Canada, with more than five years’ experience, Luke is trained in emergency first response instruction and first aid. Luke designed and implemented a new safety training program about CNG-powered vehicle safety.

"It’s an honor to receive this award on behalf of myself and Miller Waste. Recognizing the knowledge gap for firefighters around CNG-powered waste trucks was a critical first step. Delivering safety seminars to local fire departments across our communities has made a huge impact — for both first responders and our crews. Knowing our workers and firefighters understand the unique hazards of CNG vehicles helps ensure everyone goes home safely at the end of the day,” shared Luke.

🌿 The City of Greenville received the Workplace Wellness Award, celebrating organizations that implement effective and exemplary health and wellness programs.

"We are honored to receive this recognition from SWANA for the City of Greenville’s Workplace Wellness Program. This award reflects our ongoing commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of our employees. Our wellness program is built around accessible care, preventive health, education, and meaningful support for our workforce and their families. We are proud of the work our employees and wellness team do every day to create a healthier, stronger workplace and grateful for the opportunity to be recognized among organizations committed to workplace wellness."

➡️Lock in your spot at RCon® today and join us at the annual Awards Ceremony to celebrate the 2026 recipients: https://swana.org/events/rcon2026

💐Special thanks to Paradigm Software LLC, official sponsor of the SWANA Safety Awards.

🎉Congratulations to OC Waste & Recycling and the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department, two recipients of ...
09/01/2026

🎉Congratulations to OC Waste & Recycling and the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department, two recipients of SWANA’s 2026 Safety Awards!

👷‍OC Waste & Recycling received the Best Safety Training Award, highlighting organizations that have implemented effective and dynamic safety training within the past year.

“We are honored to receive SWANA’s Best Safety Training Program Award on behalf of OC Waste & Recycling’s Heavy Equipment Training Program. This recognition reflects the dedication of our equipment operators, trainers, and supervisors who built a program focused on safety, skill development, and continuous improvement. The award highlights our team’s commitment to protecting one another while safely and efficiently delivering essential public services to Orange County residents,” shared Jordan Young, CSP, QISP COEE, Interim Deputy Director of Safety Culture and Workforce Development at OC Waste & Recycling.

🦺️ San Diego Environmental Services received the Biggest Safety Improvement Award which recognizes an excellent safety improvement.

The City of San Diego Environmental Services Department shared that they are “proud to be recognized by SWANA for our efforts at serving the safety interests of our employees. We feel immense satisfaction in showcasing how our operational practices align with the mission statement of our Safety, Training, and Employee Development Section: ‘Safety is a value that revolves around a knowledgeable and committed workforce.’"

Stay tuned to learn about two more Safety Award recipients tomorrow.

✈️We will recognize all awards recipients at RCon® in St. Louis, MO, at the end of the month. Join the celebration: https://swana.org/events/rcon2026

SWANA Safety Awards are sponsored by Paradigm Software LLC.

High-reliability organizations thrive when employees are empowered to identify, report, and address risks before inciden...
08/31/2026

High-reliability organizations thrive when employees are empowered to identify, report, and address risks before incidents occur.

Organizations who are early adopters of these principles benefit from:
👏Reduced accidents and incidents
👏Lower injury and fatality risks
👏Reduced insurance claims and premiums
👏Improved employee satisfaction and retention

Transform your safety culture to reduce incidents and downtime while improving productivity, morale, and your bottom line with a new Collaborative Just Culture® virtual course on September 9.

Download course materials to share your new approach to safety with your team and a certificate of completion. 🎓

🚨 https://sgcpartners.com/swana/

Whether you're a manager, supervisor, safety professional, or operations leader, this course provides practical – take the next step toward building a safer and more reliable organization.

💰SWANA members save $200 on the virtual Collaborative Just Culture® Course.

📦Lifting heavy items is one of the leading causes of injuries in the workplace, but many of these injuries are preventab...
08/30/2026

📦Lifting heavy items is one of the leading causes of injuries in the workplace, but many of these injuries are preventable.

Read this week’s Safety First to learn proper lifting techniques so you can lift safely and avoid unnecessary strain: https://bit.ly/4zNkyB6

♻️ How do we turn circularity from a sustainability goal into economic infrastructure? Biology, technology, and innovati...
08/28/2026

♻️ How do we turn circularity from a sustainability goal into economic infrastructure?

Biology, technology, and innovative capital models can accelerate solutions at scale. When public-private partnerships, municipal innovation, and outcomes-based investments come together, we can transform promising pilot projects into long-term, economically sustainable circular systems.

Dive deep into the future of climate innovation and resource management at RCon® 2026 with keynote speaker Joanne Rodriguez, Senior Director of Business Development, Climate at SecondMuse.

Join hundreds of waste and resource management professionals in St. Louis and be part of the conversations shaping the future of our industry.

📅 Thursday, October 1 🕤 9:30-11:00 a.m. CDT

🤝 Keynote speaker sponsored by Republic Services.

Register and see the rest of the headlining speakers heading to next month in St. Louis: https://tr.ee/JEJlT4.

💐Congratulations to the 2026 SWANA Award recipients Dr. Ashpreet Kaur, Ashley Ramsey, P.G., and Samarjeet Kadam! The Y...
08/27/2026

💐Congratulations to the 2026 SWANA Award recipients Dr. Ashpreet Kaur, Ashley Ramsey, P.G., and Samarjeet Kadam!

The YP Award acknowledges the commitment and dedication of professionals aged 35 or younger who have worked in the solid waste/resource management industry for over three years. We are proud to recognize their hard work and spotlight their impact as part of the new generation of changemakers in resource management. ✨

"SWANA has played a huge role in my professional growth and has given me opportunities that have shaped my career in ways I never expected,” Ashley Ramsey says. “Through SWANA, I’ve built incredible connections across the industry, many of whom I now consider good friends and trusted colleagues I can turn to for advice, guidance, and support. Working in solid waste has allowed me to stay connected to the environment, grow tremendously as a leader, and gain a deeper understanding of how our waste systems function and where we have opportunities to improve. It also gives me a good excuse to get my daily dose of sunshine, one of the less talked-about perks of the job! I’m honored to receive this recognition and grateful for the mentors, colleagues, and friends who have supported me along the way. I look forward to continuing to serve SWANA and contribute to the advancement of sustainable waste and resource management."

🎉Join us at RCon® in St. Louis, MO, next month to recognize all awards recipients. Learn more about and take part in the celebration: https://swana.org/events/rcon2026

Congratulations to Michelle Leonard, recipient of the 2026 Robert L. Lawrence Distinguished Service Award! "I am honored...
08/26/2026

Congratulations to Michelle Leonard, recipient of the 2026 Robert L. Lawrence Distinguished Service Award!

"I am honored to receive this prestigious award from SWANA,” Michelle shared. “SWANA has played an integral role in my career development in the solid waste field, and this award is especially important to me as it recognizes my many years of dedication to our industry and to the organization."

Currently Senior Vice President of SCS Engineers, Michelle has dedicated over 35 years of her life to solid waste advancements. She serves as SCS Engineers’ National Expert in Solid Waste Planning & Recycling and is heavily involved in the industry and in her community.

Join us in congratulating Michelle and celebrating her achievements!

SWANA will recognize all awards recipients at RCon® in St. Louis next month. Learn more about and take part in the celebration: https://swana.org/events/rcon2026

What does it take to transform a recycling program from low participation to a community-wide success story? The City of...
08/26/2026

What does it take to transform a recycling program from low participation to a community-wide success story?

The City of St. Peters, MO, moved from an opt-in bag-based system to universal cart-based recycling, increasing participation, reducing contamination, and creating a fully integrated Environmental Campus, Recycle City. St. Peters built a new MRF with Machinex technology to achieve efficient sorting and a high-quality recycling system.

Read more in this article https://tr.ee/55RDXK and experience it first-hand at RCon® next month.

🚛 How St. Peters modernized its collection system
♻️ What makes its upgraded MRF a model for future growth
💡The routing & MRF technology improving efficiency & reducing costs
🌱 How composting and organics management fit into the big picture
🦺 Why operational culture & safety are critical to long-term success

See the transfer operations, composting program, recycling systems, and public outreach strategies by adding the Inside Recycle City tour to your RCon® 2026 experience. Thank you to tour sponsor Machinex!

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